Flume



A. L. GAG E Jan. 24, 1928.

FLUME Filed May 8, 1922 1 2 Sheets-Sheetz ii gr!! grim flrw/lam L Gay y Patented Jan. 24,1928.

ABRAHAM L. GAGE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

suturin Application filed May 3,

lily invention relates to metallic sectional lluuies such as are used tor irrigating purposes. I

One ot the main objects oi my invention is to provide sections which are made of straight or flat sheets which are bent transly to semicircular torm the abutting .tiulinal ends at which overlap each and the joints being sealed merely by Lg action of ransverse tension and 11 members. sharp curves in thejoints are eliminated and e vanizfng is not fractured and thus always a protecting covering over the sheet of metal. It the galvanizing on the plates is fractured corrosion sets up in a snort wl Se and eats out the plates and been discovered that this is a serious n to metallic flumes. M A ..rther object is to provide a positive loclrbetwen the separate sheets and the clamping members so that there can be no relative motion and thus allow the clamping seal to be broken. This sometimes results from the flame assumin the catenary curve when the flame is partially tilled with water and also by external force being applied to the clamping members which sometimes jars them loose and causes tiie seal to be broken.

sion member which is not recessed in the metal but in which the trictional resistance is materially eliminated by forming the same with round edges which do not interfere with the tlow of water in the flume.

A further objectis to provide the compression members witha slightly concaved under surface so that the compression member can pinch the sheets slightly but not sufiiciently to ties the sheets and breal: the galvanizing.

A, further object is to provide a novel clamping washer which forms a positive loch against longitudinal displacement and also functions to hold the compression memher tightly againstthe sheets. I i

A further object is to provide a reinforcing shoe on the joints between the sections so as to substantially eliminate the loss of water hru the joint when the flume is distorted due to the pressure of the water carricdby the tlume. i

These and other objects I have illustrated in the following drawings, in which:

F3 1 is a transverse section of my imt3 l'OYECl. tlunie By this means all A. t'urther object is to provide a compres- 1822, Serial No. 559,451.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 3+3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4: is a view taken on the line 4% of Fig; 1 and shows an inside view of the joint oi my fiume; I

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; v j

6 is a perspective view of the reinforcing shoe which is positioned on the joint of my improved construction;

7 is a perspective view showing an alternative construction 0t this reinforcing shoe; j

' l? 8 is a partial transverse section. of my fiume ano shows the positive clamping means for holding the plates and compress ing members against relative movement;

F 9 is a sectional view takenon the line 9-9 o'tFig. 8 and shows a detail of construction; s

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line l0-10 of Fig. 8 and shows one form of this clamping means for preventing relative displacement; i

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of the form assumed by a fiume due to the pressure of the water;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary transverse section and shows an improved form of locking washer;

Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the separate parts of this locking washer; and

. Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 12. j j

The operation and construction'is as follows:

.My fiume is made up ot sections a. which are flat sheets of galvanized plate which are rolled longitudinally to a semi-circular form. Abutt-ing ends a are lapped and areheld between two clampingmembers, a tension member I) and a compression member 0. The 4 ends 6 of the tension member extend thru a cross bar (Z which supports the flume structure. A clamping washer e is mounted on the tension member 6 and the inner lip extends over the compression member 0 and the clamping action is increased by the tightening of the bolts 7 on the tension members Z). A flat washer g is placed under the nut 7. The clamping member e is made with a p h ch ext nd in r y yond the.

('OII'IPLISS the con'iprcssion member 0 and pre rent it from slipping longitiuhnally. This will result in atighter clamping action be- 'tween the abutting ends. The (OlliPiGSSiOl'l member does not seat in any recess but nierelylaidflat upon the surface of the inner sheet. It is made with curved edges and preferably is of halt oval cross section so as to eliminate retardation to the passage of water. The compression member 0 is made with a slight recess 0" underneath so that the force of the tension member tends to buckle the sheets sli htly and cause them topinch inthis recess. This buckling effect is very slight and not enough to flex the plates sufficiently to flake off the galvanizing. This feature of my invention is of the utmost importance because any breaks in the protecting material however slight, causes a corrosion underneath which soon eats away a large section and causes leakage. Any beading or forming of the sections after they have been galvanized will cause this flaking and has been one of the serious objections to sheet metal flumes.

A shoe h positioned on the bottom of the lapped end a and forms a positive lock against displacement of the tension member I). It is formed with flanges 71 in which are grooves h in which the tension members rest. It can be seen that after the tension member is tightened theflange It will prevent the tension member from being removed from the shoe and in ordinary circumstances the shoe 7; presents a broad surface which effectually locksthe oint. In

some cases it is desired to bolt thru the shoe and the lappedsections by means of bolts 71 and saddle strap This positively locks all members together. This shoe 7:. may bemade of corrugated metal as is and the tension member positioned 111 one of the longitudinal grooves and thus be prevented from slipping. This corrugated shoe performs a double function inasmuch as it more efllectually stillensthe joint and suliistan'tially prevents the distortion ofthe sheet due to the weight of water "carried by the flumeg The weight of water passing at its normal rate and normalvolume causes the sheets to assume approximately the catenary curve asshown inIFig. 15 and :li'orj-this reason I have provided means which will substan- ;the tension member 7).

said overlapping ends and by bolts 0 are positioned just above the water line of the tlume and tend to draw the sheets outward and in constant contact with This clamp I does not hold the sheets in l'ixcd relation but allows sliding action so that the pressure on the compression member will he allowed to lillout against the sheet at all times and thus effectually seal the joint between the lapped ends. I have provided a *asher p whichniay he used in place of the -usher c,

which is made up preferably in tions as Q and r. g is a section in which is a hole which C(H'l'GSpOllflS in size to the tension member and which is mounted on the same. ris a member whichhas aslot r which (Ull'GSPOIlflS in size to the compression .lllflll'lher and which is mountedthcrethiu. The

end of the compression member bears against.

the section o and the sides against the sides ot the slot 1* and thus the con'ijn'cssion member is not allowed to more rclativelyto the tension member I claim: a

1. "in a Home. a plurality of sc1ni-circular sections, the longitudinal ends of said see Etions overlapping each othena transvcria: tension member encircling the exterior o'l said overlapping ends and a correspondingly ar- -ranged compression member hearingon the inleriorly overlapping ends, these menlhers adapted to clamp said overlying ends be tween them 1neans for applying said clamping force, a shoe curved approxinlately to the radius of the tension mcn'iber, the latter bearing on said shoe, the shoe hearing against the overlying end section. said shoe being provided with means for holdingthe tension member in position on theshoc:

2. In a flumc a plurality ot semi-circular sections, the longitudinal ends of said sectionsoverlapping each other. a transverse tension member encircling the caterior of i a corrcslunuliugly arranged compression member hearing on the interior-1y overlapping ends. these incinhers adapted to clamp said overlying ends llQlHVPPIlH1911), means for applying said clamping torcera shoe curred apprmtinial clv to the radius of the tension member. the latter hearing on said shoe. the shoe hearing all iilll against the overlying end. said shoe being provided with means for holding the tension incn'ihcr in position on the shoe, a bolt extendingthin said overlappedends and said shoeto prevent the relative longitudinal displaccment oi the ()Vfl'lttPDCd. section ends.

3. In a flame, a plurality of semi-circular sections, the longitudinal ends oi. said sceform, a transverse tension member encircling the exterior of said overlapping ends and a correspondingly arranged compression member bearing on the interior of said overlapping ends, these members adapted to clamp said overlapping ends between them, the inner face of the compression member being provided with a longitudinal groove, the overlappingends of said sections extending beyond said Compression member on eaclrside ot' the latter, and means for applying said clan'iping force. i a

11. In allume, a plurality of connecting semi-eylindrical sections, each of uniform cross'section throughout its lengtl1,-said sections being overlapped at their longitudinal ends, and means for securing said sections in place, comprisinga transverse compres sion member arranged to bear on the interior 01 said overlapped ends of said sections, a tension member arranged to bear on; the exterior of 52nd overlapped ends,cand

meansindependent of said sections adapted to engage ,tlieside edges of and thus hold said compression membersin place against shitting longitudinally of said fiuine.

190,111 ELfiUHIG, a plurality of connecting semi-cylindrical sections, each of uniform cross-section throughout its, length, said sections being overlapped at their longitudinal ends, and means for securing said sections in place, comprising a transverse compression member arranged to bear on the interior of said overlapped ends of said sections, a tension member-arranged to bear on the exterior of said overlapped ends, and means independent of said sections secured on the upperedges of said overlapped ends adapted to engagethe side edges of and thus hold said compression members in place against shifting longitudinally of said l'lunie.

13. la a tluine, a plurality of connecting semi-cylindrical sections, said sections being overlapped at their longitudinal ends, and means for securing said sectionsin place, con'iprising'a transverse compression member arranged to bear on the interior oilsaid overlapped ends of said sections, a tension member arranged to bear on the exteriorol said overlapped ends, and plates secured at the upper edges 01" said overlapped ends, said plates provided with portions adapted to engage the side edges of and thus hold said compression members in place against shifting longitudinally of said thune.

let. 111 a flume, a plurality of connecting semi-eylindri all sections, said sections being overlapped at their longitudinal ends, and

means for securing said sections in place,

comprising a transverse COIHPTQSS'lOI] member arranged to bear on theinterior oi said overlapped ends of said sections, a tension member arranged to bear on the exterior of said overlappedends, and plates securedin place on the upper edges 01" said overl q ipnd ends, said plates provided, respectively, with a bent-over portion extending on the interior of said flume and recessed longitudinally of said compression a member to embrace the latter and thus be adapted to engage its sideedges to hold the same in place against shifting longitudii'ially of said flume.

ABRAHAM L. GAGE. 

